Unlock Apple iPhone 3G and 3GS

Saturday 22 October 2011

Jailbreak and Unlock iPhone 3GS on iOS 5 Baseband 5.16.05

Untethered jailbreak for iOS 5 is not yet available and baseband 5.16.05 can’t be unlocked.

However, it is still possible to unlock your iPhone by updating the baseband to 6.15.00. This is an iPad baseband which can break your GPS.

Apple is still signing iOS 4.1 which you need to downgrade your iPhone 3GS to. The reason why you need to downgrade to iOS 4.1 first is so that you can update your baseband to 6.15.00.

[Final warning: Proceed at your own risks!]

Be sure to take your time and follow each step carefully. If you miss a step you may fail to unlock your iPhone 3GS.

Steps:

1. Backup your contacts, photos, apps etc. Remove your SIM card.

2. Download original iOS 4.1 firmware for iPhone 3GS.

3. Download redsn0w 0.9.8rc18 for Windows or Mac.

4. Download latest version of TinyUmbrella from here.

5. Remove iTunes 10.5 and install iTunes 10.4.1 for Windows (32-bit) or Mac.

6. Put your iPhone into DFU mode. See YouTube video here.

7. Launch iTunes, connect your iPhone, hold down the SHIFT for Windows or Option for Mac while you click the RESTORE button in iTunes and select the iOS 4.1 firmware file you have just downloaded.

8. The restore will end with error 1015 and recovery loop on the iPhone, this can be resolved using the “Exit Recovery” button in TinyUmbrella.

9. Start redsn0w 0.9.6rc18.

10. Browse for the iOS 4.1 firmware you just downloaded.

11. Select ‘Install Cydia’ and ‘Install iPad Baseband’. Warning: installing iPad baseband will break your GPS.

12. Follow on screen instructions to put your device into DFU mode to begin the jailbreak.

13. When the process is done, you will find that your iPhone is now jailbroken on iOS 4.1 with iPad baseband 6.15.00. To make sure you can always go back to iOS 4.1, launch Cydia and select ‘Make my life easier.’

If you’re happy with iOS 4.1 and would like to unlock it, skip to step 19 now.

Want iOS 5 on your iPhone? Let’s update it to iOS 5 and then unlock it with ultrasn0w 1.2.4. We’re more than half way there!

14. Download custom iOS 5 for 3GS from here.

15. Download the latest redsn0w from the Dev Team’s website or from here. Start redsn0w, go to Extras > Pwned DFU. This allows your iPhone to accept custom firmware.

16. Reinstall iTunes 10.5.

17. Connect your iPhone to your computer and hold shift+restore (Windows) or option+restore (Mac) and select the custom iOS 5 IPSW you just downloaded.

18. Once the restore is done, your iPhone will now have iOS 5 with baseband 6.15.00. If you are stuck on Apple logo with an empty loading bar, run redsn0w again but this time click on Extras then Just Boot.

19. Launch Cydia from Springboard (home menu).

20. Search for ultrasn0w on Packages in Cydia. If you cannot find it, add new sources by typing ultrasn0w repo:

repo666.ultrasn0w.com (with zero, not o).

21. Install Ultrasnow 1.2.4.

22. Reboot your iPhone. Please note that since the jailbreak is tethered it may not boot up properly (stuck on Apple logo). If this happens, start redsn0w 0.9.9 again, go to Extras > Just Boot. Follow on screen instructions.

23. Turn off 3G and insert your SIM card. It should pick up your mobile signal.

Thursday 10 February 2011

iPhone 3GS Recovery Loop and Error 1015 Fix with Custom Firmware 4.2.1

For iPhone 3GS users who have upgraded to baseband 6.15.00 but are stuck in a recovery loop, this instruction will help you resolve this issue.

If you have iPad's baseband 6.15.00 installed into your iPhone, iTunes will not allow you to restore with the original firmware as it does not recognize this baseband on an iPhone.

Download custom firmware 4.2.1 for iPhone 3GS [396.46MB download link]
Use Redsn0w 0.9.6b8 and select pawn DFU mode only option [Windows or Mac]
On iTunes, do a shift restore and point to the custom IPSW file you have just downloaded
If you encounter error 16xx, use iREB-4.0.x-4.1-RC2 to fix this issue [download link, Windows version only]
Repeat step 3 by doing a shift restore
After restore is completed, your iPhone will reboot automatically and you will get to the emergency screen
Use redsn0w again and chose the option just boot tethered right now
Your iPhone will reboot showing a Pinapple logo and your iPhone it will be activated automatically

Unlock iPhone 3G or 3GS Baseband 5.14.02 or 5.15.04 Without WiFi

iPhone 3G and 3GS users who have basebands 5.14.02 and 5.15.04 can be "unlocked" using a non-conventional method. Your iPhone's baseband needs to be updated to version 6.15.00. If the WiFi on your iPhone is not working, do not dismay as it is still possible to unlock it.

There are 3 major steps to unlock your iPhone.

1. Update your iPhone to 4.2.1 via iTunes. However, you can continue using iOS 4.1 to enjoy untethered jailbreak; although now you can untethered jailbreak iOS 4.2.1 with GreenPois0n RC5.

2. Jailbreak your iPhone using redsn0w 0.9.6b6 and at the same time update the baseband to 6.15.00 (iPad's baseband). (download here for Windows or Mac).

3. Unlock for any carrier using the new ultrasn0w 1.2. (Note: iPhone Dev Team skipped the unlock for 5.14.02 and 5.15.04, they did the unlock for iPad's baseband 6.15.00 which is compatible with 3G and 3GS)

WARNING: Please do not proceed if you are unsure what to do.

1. There is no way to downgrade your baseband if you are already on 6.15.00.

2. Starting from iOS 4.2.1 and if you have a baseband 6.15.00, you will NOT be able to restore using the original firmware. You can only do it via a custom firmware.

Steps:

1. Download iOS 4.2.1 for iPhone 3GS or 3G. [iPhone 3G iOS 4.2.1 download link | iPhone 3GS iOS 4.2.1 download link ] NOTE: If you wish to stay at iOS 4.1, you can download them here [iPhone 3G iOS 4.1 download link | iPhone 3GS iOS 4.1 download link]

2. Update and restore to iOS 4.2.1 firmware using the IPSW file you just downloaded via iTunes 10.1.

NOTE: You can choose to stay on 4.1, just check the Install iPad Baseband option on redsn0w. Make sure you choose 4.1 IPSW when using redsn0w.

3. Download and start Redsn0w 0.9.6b6 and select the iOS 4.2.1 firmware to start with the jailbreak.

4. Select “Install Cydia” and “Install iPad baseband” options and then click “Next” to continue. Redsn0w will now download the 06.15.00 baseband from iPad's 3.2.2 firmware and will replace it the baseband in iOS 4.2.1.

5. Switch off your device and make sure it is plugged in to the computer before you click “Next”. Follow the on screen instructions on how to put your iPhone into DFU mode.

6: Redsn0w will jailbreak your iPhone and once done, it will restart automatically and you will find it jailbroken state (you will find Cydia) on iOS 4.2.1 firmware, with the unlockable 06.15.00 baseband.

Additional Notes: For iPhone 3GS (New Bootrom) to be able to run Cydia, you must first run your device in the so called “jailbroken state” on every reboot by using “Just boot tethered right now” option in Redsn0w.

Unlock using ultrasn0w 1.2 [Without WiFi]

1. Download iFunBox, mobile substrate 0.9 and ultrasn0w 1.2.

2. Remove the SIM card from your iPhone and then launch Cydia from the springboard.

3. Launch iFunBox and copy mobile substrate 0.9 and ultrasn0w 1.2 into Raw File System/Private/var/root/Media/Cydia/AutoInstall. If this folder is not present, you can manually create it. Note: Folder name is case sensitive.

4. Reboot your iPhone and insert your SIM card. Toggle the Airplane mode to ON and then OFF. Your iPhone will search and register to your mobile phone network. Please be patient, sometimes it may take up to 3 minutes. If it doesn’t register, reboot your iPhone again.

Note: for iPhone 3GS on iOS 4.2.1 (unless already jailbroken with GreenPois0n), if you need to reboot your iPhone: Switch off your iPhone first then bring it to DFU mode. Then use Redsn0w and choose just boot tethered right now.

Unlock iPhone 3G or 3GS with Baseband 5.14.02 or 5.15.04

iPhone 3G and 3GS users who have basebands 5.14.02 and 5.15.04 can be "unlocked" using a non-conventional method. Your iPhone's baseband needs to be updated to version 6.15.00.

5. Switch off your device and make sure it is plugged in to the computer before you click “Next”. Follow the on screen instructions on how to put your iPhone into DFU mode.

6: Redsn0w will jailbreak your iPhone and once done, it will restart automatically and you will find it jailbroken state (you will find Cydia) on iOS 4.2.1 firmware, with the unlockable 06.15.00 baseband.

Additional Notes: For iPhone 3GS (New Bootrom) to be able to run Cydia, you must first run your device in the so called “jailbroken state” on every reboot by using “Just boot tethered right now” option in Redsn0w.

Unlock using ultrasn0w 1.2

1. Remove the SIM card from your iPhone and then launch Cydia from the springboard.

2. Tap on Manage.

3. Search for ultrasn0w on Packages in Cydia. If you cannot find it, add new Sources by typing: ‘repo666.ultrasn0w.com‘ (…sn0w = the digit zero, not O)

4. A new ultrasnow package will be installed. Go to Packages and look for ultrasnow. Tap and install it.

5. Reboot your iPhone and insert your SIM card. Toggle the Airplane mode to ON and then OFF. Your iPhone will search and register to your mobile phone network. Please be patient, sometimes it may take up to 3 minutes. If it doesn’t register, reboot your iPhone again.

Note: for iPhone 3GS on iOS 4.2.1 (unless already jailbroken with GreenPois0n), if you need to reboot your iPhone: Switch off your iPhone first then bring it to DFU mode. Then use Redsn0w and choose just boot tethered right now.